When Ichigo first got his Zanpakutou, it was so big because he had no idea how to control his reiatsu. That was explained by both Renji and his father (Captain class suppress their reiatsu so they're not swinging around swords as big as skyscrapers)

When Ichigo learnt the name of his Zampakutou, he was told that the powers he was given by Rukia were destroyed by Byakuya, Zangetsu just hid deep inside Ichigo. Ichigo's Shikai sword release is a permament sword release given the nature of Zangetsu.

So, Kenpachi's Zanpakutou could be something like Zangetsu, but instead of speed like what Ichigo has, Kenpachi's is unbridled power.

I think he will learn the name eventually, but there's definitely no rush at this point. I think Tite Kubo will eventually share each of the 13 Captain's various releases, abilities, etc before it's all said and done.

I support the vice captain theory TBH. Its my belief that he at one point had that much power it caused his zanpaktou to manifest into a actual form, like all the others did during one of the seasons. Hence why we never saw his zanpaktou during that season.

I mean from that one eye patch he has alot of suppressed power and thats something tiny, Imagine how much power he truly has at full potential, even with a possible bankai.

One theory which I'm not sure anyone else has thought of is to do with that scar. Lets say before he met his vice-captain he knew the name of his zanpaktou and gotten to the point where he could use his bankai. Lets say he used it but the huge amount of power concentrated in him caused him to lose control and black out, losing his memories. This then gives the vice captain her form and he has lost his memories. He then meets the vice-captin soon after and gives her a name he feels is best, lets say its the actual name of the zanpaktou without them realising.

memphis834wrote:
Kenpachi has a shikai sword. The only way to obtain a shikai sword is by gaining knowledge of your zanpakuto's name. There's no other way around it.

I'm not so sure about that... Isn't Ichigo another example? If I recall, his zanpakutou is also in shikai (first-release) form. And while his first zanpakutou may not have been Zangetsu, its size still suggests that it too was the Shikai form even though Ichigo did not know its name (or even that it had a name).

Correct, Zhiroc. I might add on to that the reason they are both in shikai all the time is because Ichigo & Kenpachi of Zaraki both have very large spiritual preassures making it impossible to un-release out of shikai.

On the general thread note -- I think yes he will learn bankai, but Zaraki needs to be defeated badly and by a specific kind of taunting opponent before he will seek more strength to bother learning his bankai. He currently has too easy of a time beating most of the challenges he seeks out to get the motivation (instead he is motivated to just find more challenges).

Zaraki's zanpakutou is not a shikai, Zaraki will probably never learn him zanpakutou's for the simple fact he doesn't believe he needs it. Considering the fact his eye patch devours his excess spiritual pressure it can be assumed that he may be unable to control his own spiritual pressure, the idea of Yachiru being a seal is an intriguing idea but is highly unlikely because Zaraki found Yachiru as a baby laughing while watching him fight. Yachiru may not be Zaraki's zanpakutou but she carry around some sort of special seal with her to surpress Zaraki spiritual which may account for her presence during all of his serious battles.

Yeah it is. Its a constant release shikai just like Ichigo's. Neither of them are able to seal their shikai. Zaraki even mentions it in their first fight when Ichigo asks him why he hasn't called upon his zanpakuto , and he says its the only form it has because its never been sealed.

Zaraki will never learn his zanpakuto's name; he doesn't need it, notice even i the newest manga he hasn't even removed his eye patch, or the fact that he needs the eye patch, he can't control his spirtual pressure, or even slightly contact his sword's name, although there was an episode that he tried to talk to his sword, i feel his sword may be the oppsite of Zaraki, like what happened in the filler arch with Kota*(misspelled probably) he and his zanpakuto lost connection and they were unable to communicate with each other, which could be the case with the captain , which means he would never learn it, due to his soul intent of only brute strength and killing. This is only thought of course anime changes very much you never know what they may due, if anything.